2019 NFL Salary Cap announced - $188.2MM

[Chromeburn]

Originally Posted by Coltsalr

On the other hand, the Broncos went for broke in free agency and won the Super Bowl. The Rams went for broke and had Goff not shit the bed they’d also be (mercifully) Super Bowl champs right now.

Originally Posted by Dam8610

The Broncos and Rams also drafted well in those time frames. Both teams, despite adding significantly in free agency, still had mostly drafted starters. Both teams started with good core pieces and supplemented that with free agents. Jacksonville built their core through free agency, which is why their run was so short and fell apart so quickly.

But the Jags have drafted well previously also. Jalen Ramsey is their best player, Myles Jack, Smith, Fournette, Ronnie Harrison I think will be good, etc. They were not just built through FA. Their biggest problem is not hitting on a QB and not handling success well. If they had drafted Derek Carr instead of Bortles they might have a Superbowl now. They should not have given Bortles that huge contract.

It would be one thing if signing FA's to push over the top never works, but it does sometimes. So you can't say that it cannot work. The Steelers pretty much only build through the draft, they are in the conversation usually but they get beat by the pats just like everyone else, and right now they are imploding.

I think the point is that there is no one sure way to build a team. Think the Broncos regret signing those players? Or the Rams? Or the pats? We didn't win a Superbowl till that defense came together and Booger McFarlane (FA) solidified the interior of that D.